Frequently Asked Questions  
Why invest in a Solar Electric System; here are a few reasons:

1. Cash Rebates
2. Tax Incentives
3. Increased Equity in Property
4. Utility Bill Savings
5. Reduced CO2 Emissions
6. Reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy sources

Buying solar for your home or business is a wise investment. 
You will invest up-front; however; you are purchasing electricity for your 30 or more years.  This will increase the value of your home or business.  Even if you are not planning on living in your home for very long, you will be able to sell your house at a higher value and are more likely to sell it faster with this money and environment saving feature. 
The graph below represents a solar system cash flow with a 6.5% loan for 15 years. Utility saving approximately equals loan payment so breakeven is instantaneous, therefore, long term savings and increased home value.  At the 15 years, there is a dip in saving because of a possible inverter replacement.  After the a15 year loan payment is completed, your savings increase rapidly.  If you pay up-front for the system, the long term savings will be even greater, but it will take some years to break even.

Solar Power has no operating costs.
Once the system is paid for, your solar electric energy is free for the life of the system. The solar modules manufacturers offer 20 to 25 year warranties, but the modules typically last longer, 40 years or more.  Solar Modules are very reliable with no moving parts and our systems are virtually maintenance free. In most cases, hosing dirt and debris off the solar panels once a year is all the care required.
 “What are the costs?”
This varies greatly depending on what you want.
 - A backup system may costs $4,000 - $7,000.
-  A cottage system may cost $5,000 - $15,000
-  A 2 killowatt grid-tie system for Standard Offer Contract may cost $10,000 - $15,000
-  To get an average home off the grid may cost $20,000 - $50,000
   See "System Questions" at bottom of this page for more info.
 “How much does it cost to install?”
-  Depends on system size and complexity. Approx. 5-  10% of total cost.
   Also any travel time.
 “What kind of warrantees on this equipment?”
-  Excellent warranties: Solar panels: 10-25 years, turbines: 3 years, electronics:
   1-5 years, Batteries 2-7 years.
 “Do I have to re-wire my whole house?”
-  No. Keep existing wiring. Re-route wiring from your existing breaker panel
 “How many solar panels will I need?”
 -  An average house would need 20 – 40 high wattage panels to go off-grid.
   Can be less for hybrid and RESOP systems.
 “What direction should the solar panels face?”
-  PV panels should be angled toward the sun at 45-70 deg.
System Questions....
At Natural Power Products we endeavor to get to know the customer and their needs before pricing equipment that may not be suitable to them! We consult with customers first to find out specifics such as.....what kind of loads/appliances, location & quality of site, full-time or intermittent use,  installation issues, budget etc. Every customer has different needs and expectations, that is why NPP consults before, during, and after on all purchases and installations. We consider all customers as an extended "green" family and have a long term commitment policy we adhere to and believe in! We have given the following examples to get an approximate idea of associated costs.
Full Time House Systems....  
How much does it cost to get my home off the grid?
To start, we will assume the following:
1. Your house is the average power consumer of 30,000 watt hours per day (wh/d). Or roughly 2,000 KWH on a 2 month hydro bill. Or your hydro bill is close to $200.00 for 2 months (60 days).
2. Your house does not have baseboard electric heating, electric water heating, pool pump running continuously, and central air conditioning.
3. You want to be totally off-grid not grid tied (supplying power back to the grid for credit).
To figure out your next steps towards a system, please go to How do I